KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The State Administrative Council (SAC), which met In Jammu on Monday under the chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra, approved the framework to rationalize retention of facilities like government accommodation, telephone and vehicles provided to the constitutional authorities, political and media-persons in the state.
As per the new Standing Operating Procedures (SoPs), the permissible period for retention of government accommodation in case of expiry of the term/termination of appointment/relinquishing of office of constitutional dignitaries, Ministers / Legislators and others shall be one month. The aforesaid authorities shall be required to surrender vehicles and official telephones within one week, an official spokesperson said this evening.
Further, allotments in respect of media persons granted under discretionary quota placed at the disposal of Minister, I/C Estates (the charge of Estates Department normally is held by the Chief Minister). Such allotments will be reviewed annually by the end of March every year and placed before the Chief Minister for his orders as regards the continuation or otherwise.
For political persons, former legislators and freedom fighters, allotments will be granted under the discretionary quota placed at the disposal of Minister I/C Estates (who is generally the Chief Minister) on the recommendations of a Committee headed by ADG Security. The other members will be DC Srinagar / Jammu, Director Estates and SSP Security Srinagar / Jammu. Such allotments shall also be subject to mandatory annual renewal which shall be done by the end of March every year.
In a case, due to any reason, including procedural delay, the Government accommodation is not vacated within the permissible period, the commercial rate in vogue shall be charged which shall be worked out annually by the PWD.
The need for this framework was necessitated by absence of guidelines to be followed in respect of Constitutional Authorities, Ministers/ Legislators, Political Persons, Media Persons and other persons who are provided accommodation under the discretionary quota.
